Geranium named Americana Salmon

ABSTRACT

The new and distinct Geranium cultivar particularly distinguished by its salmon colored semi-double flowers on large umbels, the plant being fast-rooting and having a vigorous bush-like growth habit and foliage with light zonation.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium,botanically known as Pelargonium hortorum Bailey, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Americana Salmon. The new cultivar ispropagated from a seedling resulting from the crossing, as the seedparent, an F2 of `Blues` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,373) with the pollenparent Pink Camellia (unpatented).

Americana Salmon is a product of a planned breeding program intended tocreate new Geranium cultivars with salmon flower color, semi-doubleflower form, green foliage, vigorous growth and superior cuttingproductivity.

The new cultivar was created in 1988 in Gilroy, Calif. and has beenrepeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Gilroy, Calif. andGuatemala over a two year period. It has also been trialed at Okemos,Mich. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive propagations; and this novelty appears to be firmlyfixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Geranium plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographicdrawings of which FIG. 1 shows a face view of a blooming umbel of theplant in full color, the colors shown being as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures; FIG. 2 is a view of apotted plant of this new variety intended only to illustrate its growthhabit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of the new plant and the data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inGilroy, Calif. The plant history was taken on six week plants, blossomedunder natural light in a greenhouse and color readings were takenindoors under 100 foot candles of cool, white fluorescent light. Colorreferences are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.).

THE PLANT

Classification: Pelargonium hortorum Bailey.

Commercial.--Zonal geranium.

Form: Vigorous bush.

Height: 12 to 16 cm., as a 51/2 inch pot plant, excluding blooms.

Growth: Upright, somewhat spreading habit, and very fast rooting.

Strength: Very sturdy and not susceptible to wind or rain damage. Goodshipping ability as rooted or unrooted cuttings.

Foliage: Abundant quantity.

Leaves:

Size.--Diameter about 11 cm.

Shape.--Rounded cordate with occasional upfolding between veins.

Margin.--Irregularly crenate.

Texture.--Leathery and pubescent on both surfaces, especially alongveins.

Ribs and veins.--Distinctly palmate, 6 to 7 cm. long.

Color.--Upper side: Green with light zonation on the outside edge.Underside: Lighter green color without zonation. Ribs and veins notprominently different from upper surface.

Petioles: About 5 to 6.0 cm. in length.

THE BUD

Size:

Diameter.--About 7 mm.

Length.--About 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm. at time of bud opening.

Shape: Pointed ovoid.

Color: Of petals when sepals first divide, R.H.S. 159-D.

Sepals: Five in number, flat behind petals. Pointed linear lanceolate,R.H.S. 143-D in an open flower.

THE FLOWER

Blooming habit: Continuous throughout the year.

Size: Approximately 4.5 cm. diameter, 1 cm. deep, irregularly radiallysymmetrical.

Form: Cup-shaped when bloom first opens, later flattening the shallowcup shape with maturity.

Petals: Five imbricate outer petals, 2.3-2.5 cm. wide and approximately2.2 cm. long. Three to eight inner smaller petaloids of varying shape.Both the outer petals and inner petaloids are salmon, R.H.S. 47-C withcolor most intense near the claw and fading lighter to the outer margin.Veins slightly darker than interveinal regions. Color changing littlewith age. Underside of petals lighter. Petals and petaloids soft andsatiny.

Pedicel: Approximately 1.6 cm. in length.

Persistence: Nonshattering flower.

INFLORESCENSE

Type: An umbel composed of approximately 35 flowers, erect or laterallyascending, the diameter of the umbel being approximately 9-11 cm.

Peduncle: Approximately 10-15 cm. in length, mostly 14 cm.; green withoccasional reddish tint on the side of the stem facing the sun.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens:

Anthers.--Six to eight positioned below the mature stigma, dull redprior to anthesis.

Filaments.--White near base and mid length, graduating to dull red nearanther.

Pollen.--Orange in color.

Pistil:

Number.--One.

Length.--Approximately 5 mm.

Stigma.--Five linear lobes of near equal length, curling back towardovary, purplish-red.

Style.--

Length.--About 2-2.5 mm., color: purplish red.

Ovaries.--At anthesis, densely pubescent with white hairs, oblong. Greendrying to a light brown at maturity.

Fruit: Partially fertile.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Geranium cultivar substantially as hereinshown and described, characterized by its green foliage with lightzonation, salmon colored, semi-double flowers on large umbels; the plantbeing fast-rooting and having a vigorous bush-like growth habit.